Mine-gate.



No. 642,200. Paten'had Jan. 30, I900.

N. K. BOWMAN MINE GATE.

(Application filed May 26, 1899.!

(No Model.) 3 Sheeis-Sheet Patented Ian. 30, I900.

N. K. BOWMAN.

MINE GATE.

(Application filed May 26, 1899.!

3 $heets-Sheet 2.

(Nu Model.)

Patented Ian. 30, I900.

N. K. BOWMAN.

MINE GATE.

Application filed May 26, 1895M 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

NrTn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEXVTON K. BOl/VMAN, OF NORTH LAWTRENCE, OHIO.

NIINE -GATE.

'srne'irroarion forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,200, dated January 30, 1900. Application filed May 26, 1899. Serial No. 718,898. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NEWTON K. BowMAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at North Lawrence, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Gates; and I do here by declare the following to be a full,clear,and

- exact description of tl1einvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to mechanism for operating mine-gates, provided to insure the proper distribution of the air to all the working entries, and has for its object to provide a sectional gate mounted in such a manner as to cause the sections or parts to swing in opposite directions when opening and closing, the operating devices actuated by the moving car being disposed upon opposite sides of the gate in diagonal alinement and connected for simultaneous action.

lVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible to various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a minegate constructed in accordance with and embodying the essential features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view of the sectional gate, showing the mountings and actuating mechanisms therefor. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a section or part of the gate, showing the closing-spring and the hinge connections between said part and the vertical post of the frame. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hinge member applied to the Vertical post and the lower portion of the rod forming the pintle between the hinge members, showing the apertured disk to which the lower end of the closing-spring is attached and the pin for preventing backward movement of the disk after the spring has been subjected to ten sion. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a rock-shaft, showingthe inner and crank arms and the operating-lever attached thereto.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The track upon which the cars travel in the entries toward and from the shaft is indicated by the reference-numeral 1. At any convenient point in the length of the track are located the gate, its mountings, and actuating devices. The frame for supporting the gate consists of vertical posts 2 and a crossbeam 3, braces 4 extending from the upper ends of the vertical posts to the sleepers or bed of the track, a brace being provided for each post and the two braces extending in opposite directions from the plane of the gate. A plate 5 is secured to the top side of each brace at a point about midway of its ends, and the top side of the plates inclines transversely and toward the track. A grooved direction pulley 6 is journaled to each of the plates 5 and lies parallel with the top surface thereof.' A hook 7 is likewise attached to each of the plates 5 and cooperates with the direction-pulleys 6 to prevent displacement of the cord or cable 8, by means of which movement is imparted to the sections or parts of the gate for opening them to admit of the passage of the car. i

A transverse shaft 9 is journaled in bearings applied to the cross-beam 3 and is provided at its ends with grooved pulleys 10 and 11 of different diameters and formed separately or together. The smaller pulleys 10 have the upper ends of the cords or cables 8 attached thereto and adapted to wind thereon, said cords or cables passing over the directi0n-pulleys 6 and having their lower ends attached to the sections or parts 12, composing the gate. Other cords or cables 13 are attached at one end to the larger pulleys 11 and are adapted to wind thereon in an inverse direction to the cords or cables 8, so that the unwinding of one set of cords will effect the winding of the other set, and vice versa. The opposite ends of the cords or cables 13 have adjustable connection with levers 14, the latter being provided at their upper ends with a series of openings 15, through any one of which hooks 16, applied to the outer terminals of the cords 13, may be engaged. Guides 17 are applied to the upper ends of the vertical posts 2 and engage with the cords or cables 13 in opposite directions.

adjacent to the pulleys 11 and serve to prevent slipping of the cords therefrom when the parts are suddenly operated.

The gate sections or parts 12 may be of wood, metal, orany suitable material and are about of like size and united] y close the space circumscribed by the frame to which the gate is applied, and these sections are hinged to opposite sides of the posts 2 at their outer edges, so as to swing from the center outward The gate-sections 12 are hinged in any desired manner and convenient way to the posts 2 and are normally closed by springs, which, as shown, are of the coiled type and mounted upon vertically-dis posed rods 18, the latter extending parallel with the posts 2 and having their end portions constituting pintles for the members of the upper and lowerhinges. This construction is not essential, but is preferable, as it admits of the sections being readily hinged orunhinged and at the same time iprovides a support for the coiled springs 19. One end of each spring is extended, as shown at 20, and

bears against the part 12, Whereas the opposite endis attached to a disk 21, secured to the rod 18 and formed with a series of openings 1 22 to receive apin 23, by means of which the disk is held in any adjusted position, said pin being adapted to engage with the adjacent hinge. By withdrawing the pins 23 the disks 21 can be turned upon the application ofa suitable tool thereto, so as to increase or diminish the tension of the springs 19, whereby their force may be adjusted so as to close the gate against the pressure of the air confined in the entries. One of the sections is disposed to open against the draft of air, while the other section opens with said draft. Hence the latter section must have its closing-spring under a great tension in order to effectually close the gate. The spring of the section opening against the draft of air is under a comparatively slight tension, as its only purpose is to start the gate when open and released, the draft serving to complete the closing.

The operating devices for each section 'of the gate are composed of an approximately horizontal bar 24, an inclined bar 25, rockshafts 26, mounted in bearings 27 and provided at their inner ends with crank-arms 28, which have direct connection with the horizontal bar 24, and crank-arms 29 at their outer ends, connected by rods or analogous devices 30, whereby the rock-shafts operate simultaneously, and the lever 14, applied to the rock-shaft adjacent to the gate. This system of connections is not claimed, specifically, in this application, since claims thereto are presented in an application for a likeinvention filed of an even date herewith. The inclined bars 25 have pivotal connection at their outer ends with strips or plates 31, applied to the road-bed at one side of the track and secured to the ends of the cross-ties. The bars 24 and 25 are preferably constructed of angle-iron, so as to secure a maximum amount of strength in a vertical and lateral direction with a minimum amount of material. The contiguous ends of the bars 24 and 25 are hingedly connected in such'a manner as to admit of their approach and separation as the bars are depressed and rise. A bracketarm 32 is applied to the free end of the inclined bar 25, and a link 33 connects the terminal of the bracket-arm 32 with the crankarm 28 of the adjacent rock-shaft, thereby insuring a simultaneous movement of the two bars.

Each gate section orpart 12 is provided with corresponding actuating mechanism, and the latter is disposed, as shown, to one side of the track and in such a manner as to have the gate-section open outwardly or away therefrom. As a car approaches the gate from either'direction the forward wheel at the side adjacent to the operating mechanism will engage with the inclined bar and ride thereon and effect a depression thereof and through the connections herein described cause the'rock-sha'fts to turn in their bearings. This operation will effect amovement of thelever 14, having positive connection with the bars depressed by the moving car, and result in turning the shaft 9 in its bearings and opening the gate-sections by reason of the connections 8 between them and the pulleys 10 of the transverse shaft. As the car passes by the gate it will engage with the opposite bar 21 and hold the gate open until completely cleared by the car. When the last inclined bar is cleared, the gate-sections will close automatically by the action of the springs 19 and reset the operating devices, which are adapted to be actuated in the manner set forth by the next car approaching the gate from either direction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a self-closing mine-gate of the character described, actuating mechanism operated by means of the approaching car to open the gate, a transverse shaft extending across the entry, pulleys secured to opposite ends of the transverse shaft,'a flexible connection at one side of the entry between one of the said pulleys and the operating mechanism, a corresponding flexible connection at the opposite side of the entry between the other of the pulleys and the gate, and a guide for the said flexible connection located at a distance from the plane of the gate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a m inc-gate of the character described, actuating mechanisms located at opposite sides of the entry and upon opposite sides of the plane of the gate and adapted to be operated by the approaching car, a transverse shaft extending across the entry, pulleys secured to opposite terminals of the transverse shaft, independent flexible connections between said actuating mechanisms and the respective pulleys, another pulley secured to an end portion of the transverse shaft,and a flexieaaeoo ble connection between the last-mentioned pulley and the gate and passing over a guide located a distance from the plane of the gate, substantially as specified.

3. In a mine-gate of the type specified, sections or parts hinged at their outer edges and meeting at their inner edges and adapted to swing from the center in opposite directions, actuating mechanisms located at opposite sides of the entry and upon opposite sides of the gate, a transverse shaft, a pair of pulleys secured to each end of the shaft, flexible connections between corresponding pulleys at opposite ends of the shaft and said actuating mechanisms, other flexible connections between the other terminal pulleys of said shaft and the sections of the gate, and guides for the latter connections located a distance from the plane of the gate, substantially as described.

d. A mine-gate composed of sections hinged at their outer edges to swing from the center in opposite directions, closing-springs for the sections of different tension, the closingspring corresponding with the section opening with the draft of air being the stronger, means for varying the tension of said closingsprings consisting of disks having the respective springs attached thereto and located adjacent to the hinges and formed with a circular series of openings,and pins to pass through any one of the openings and engage with the hinges, actuating mechanisms located at the sides of the track and upon opposite sides of the plane of the gate and in such relation as to have the gate -sections open outwardly therefrom and positive connections between the gate-sections and the said actuating mechanisms, substantially as set forth. I

5. A mine-gate composed of sections hinged at their outer edges to swing from the center in opposite directions, closing-springs applied to the said sections, a transverse shaft, companion pulleys applied to the terminals of said shaft, and cords or like connections applied to the gate-sections and adapted to wind in reverse directions upon corresponding pulleys, actuating mechanisms to be operated by the approaching car, and flexible connections between said actuating mechanisms and the other corresponding pulleys and wound upon the latter in opposite directions and reversely to the adjacent cords in connection with the gate-sections, substantially as set forth.

6. A mine-gate of the character described, composed of sections hinged to swing from the center in opposite directions, a transverselyarrauged shaft provided at its ends with companion pulleys, closing-springs for the said sections, cords connecting the gate-sections with corresponding pulleys and adapted to wind upon the latter in reverse directions, actuating mechanisms for the gate-sections located upon opposite sides of the plane of the gate and comprising upright levers, and cords connecting said levers with the other pulleys of the transverse shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a mine-gate of the class described, com= prising sections hinged to swing from the center in opposite directions, closing-springs applied to said sections, a transversely-arranged shaft provided at its ends with companion pul leys, cords or like connections between corresponding pulleys and the gate-sections, actuating mechanisms disposed at the sides of the track upon opposite sides of the plane of the gate and including a lever, and cords adjustably connecting said levers with the other pulleys of the transverse shaft, substantially as described.

8. The herein-described mine-gate com prising a frame, oppositely-disposed braces strengthening and staying the said frame, direction-pulleys applied to the braces at a point between theirends and inclining transversely with reference to said braces, a transverse shaft provided with companion pulleys at its ends of different diameters, cords or like connections secured at one end to the gate-sec tions and at their opposite ends to the smaller of the companion pulleys and passing around the said directionpulleys intermediate of their ends, closing-springs for the gate-sections provided with means for varying their tension, actuating devices including movable bars, rock-shafts and upright levers, and cords or like connections adjustably connecting said upright levers with the larger of the aforesaid companion pulleys and adapted to wind upon the latter in reverse directions, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEWTON K. BOXVMAN.

Witnesses:

(l. 0. Rinse, V. B. I'IILLYARD. 

